Army gives back more lands to civilians

Major General Dharshana Hettiaarachchi handing over documents to Jaffna District Secretary N. Vethanayahan.

The Army released 19.72 acres in Myladdy north and east within the Palaly Army Cantonment and a section adjoining it on Monday, marking Mahashivarathri Day.

This continues to honour its commitment to return state and private lands used by the Security Forces in the North and East, following directions of the Army Commander.

A small section of 0.25 acres of the released land in Myladdy belongs to the state while the remainder is owned by private owners.

The symbolic ceremony for the release of lands took place at the Thelippalai Divisional Secretariat in the presence of state officials and landowners.

Major General Dharshana Hettiaarachchi, Commander, Security Forces - Jaffna symbolizing the formal release of lands, handed over documents to the District Secretary for Jaffna, N. Vethanayahan.

The Army, on the directions of the Army Commander and Presidential directives with national security concerns in focus, has been releasing private and state lands in the past two to three years to strengthen bonds of goodwill, reconciliation and ethnic harmony and relations with Security Forces serving those areas.

Thelippalai Divisional Secretary, state officials in Jaffna and Thelippalai Secretariats, civilians and landowners were present at the ceremony.